Visualizing Friendships: This is a reaffirmation of the impact Facebook has on connecting people, even across oceans and borders. Beautiful! Important to note China (and a few other places) are mostly absent from this map.
As part of their elaborate campaign to launch the new Evoque, an SUV cross-over aimed at a younger demographic, Range Rover is relying on a two pronged approach. First, their Pulse of the City app was released mid-November for the iPhone and Android platforms and allows you to track your journey using virtual GPS breadcrumbs then have it displayed back in a nifty visualization. Range Rover recently teamed up with the band OK Go as the quartet made their way through the streets of Los Angeles, playing their instruments along the way.
Second, the car company has enlisted the help of a couple of influential trendsetters in nearly a dozen cities worldwide. These ambassadors range from actors to singers and people involved in fashion, design, and so forth. They are loaned an Evoque to drive around their cities, visiting their favorite spots and narrating the journey. It’s a great insight into what these places mean to the people who live there and know it best.
This campaign is an innovative approach at bringing together social media, geolocation, and real-time interaction to create an interesting and dynamic marketing campaign. And, from what I have seen of the Evoque in person, this is exactly what will appeal to the targeted drivers.
I don’t care how old you were when the first Matrix came out, you were wiping drool off your chin when you saw the bullet-time effect for the first time. Now, over a decade later, the team who brought you Neo and Trinity in all their ass kicking, 360 degree glory, has teamed up with Rip Curl and a team of champion surfers for something totally different. Filming in Malaysia’s Sunway Lagoon Wavepool with a rig of 52 Canon SLR’s, the team shot spectacular footage of Mick Fanning and Steph Gilmore doing what they do best, shredding waves. Timeslice Films and Rip Curl were able to pull off an impressive shoot, giving fans a glimpse of what it’s like to be the world’s best, from every angle imaginable. The project wasn’t without its casualties though – a couple of Macbooks plus half a dozen hard drives gave their life to bring you this goodness.
Pardon my French, but this Gymkhana video is fucking unbelievable. Maybe the most talented driver I’ve ever seen, ever? Ever ever? Thanks mom.
Shot just south of Paris, France in Linas at l’Autodrome de Linas –Montlhéry, this 1.58 mile oval track, built in 1924, features banks as steep as 51 degrees, which is more than double the standard incline of most NASCAR ovals. Chosen by Ken for this specific reason, the ramp-like banking proved to be a unique and exciting challenge. The driving physics for the stunts performed were totally unknown until Ken attempted the maneuvers during filming.
Check out The Future of Health report compiled by our friends at PSFK with ideas from creative folks around the world. You can view it on SlideShare or fill out your information to download the full 200 page PDF report. Very inspired work.
A 200 page report that not only describes the critical trends that are bringing healthcare to the many across the world but also has over 40 ideas for UNICEF based on the report from creative agencies like Wieden + Kennedy, Great Works, Cunning, Night Agency & Story Worldwide.
Plastiki (the crazy boat carrying my friends crossing the Pacific Ocean) was constructed using 12,500 plastic bottles. The crew is not far from Sydney and they want to get 12,500 pledges to beat waste before they get there. Let’s not let them down. Go, Take Action Now and make the pledge (and then please, tell the world).
Brandkarma’smission is simple: To help everyone make better brand choices and influence brand behavior for good. It was dreamed up by my friend Craig Davis. Early on I agreed to join as an advisor as I was encouraged an inspired by what he’s aiming to do. I do think this is the start of something big and important (this is just the beta version). Follow them on Twitter and join the movement.
The website feeds in news stories about brands but essentially relies on the input of its users to rate how well brands are performing. Rankings from the perspectives of the customers of the company, employees, suppliers, investors, and of how the brand is performing environmentally are all featured.
While many augmented reality application use mobile phones or other interactive devices, university of washinton professor babak amir parviz and his students want to embed AR technology right into the eye. Parviz and his students have been working on AR embedded contact lenses that utilize sensors and wireless technology. Via Design Boom
Fantastic. Happiness In Bed. It’s the snuggie for the intellectual set. Because it’s really, really annoying to have cold arms when reading in bed. Via FormFiftyFive
What would you put in your Scenter? What smell do you want to sniff throughout your day?
One particular scent can bring back more memories than a thousand pictures. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to store smells the same way we store photographs? SCENTER is a depository of scents. Concentrated personal fragrances can be stored inside compact cartridges, their scent being released through a nozzle upon pressing the bellows thus evoking the memories embedded in them. Via Joan Spear
QR “Built Code” using Frisk mints in Japan. Check it out.
SET is now promoting the use of what we call “built” codes. We believe that these codes offer brands a unique opportunity to connect the real world to the online world. In the coming months we will be looking to incorporate these “built” codes not only into print media but also into outdoor stunts and events that allow the consumer to truly interact with the code in fun and exciting ways.
In 1943, five years after it was founded and during the height of World War II, Walt Disney Studios put out an organization chart to explain how the company functioned. What’s fascinating is how it differs from org charts issued by most corporations.
Back in August some friends at Aston Martin and Gotham Dream Cars hooked me up with a brand new DB9 for the weekend (Thanks again guys!). I originally intended to write a blow by blow story of my experience but every time I put pen to paper I got nowhere but one single word. Perfection. Driving the DB9 was an absolute pleasure.
Fantastic pictures courtesy of my brother Micah Spear.
Rather than a narrative, I’ll share a couple things I’ll never forget:
The attention to detail inside these cars is incredible. No corner, crevice or surface was left without excruciating attention to the detail. Stitching, beautiful woods, fabrics, and so on. The craftsmanship was just gorgeous. I guess that’s what being hand built gets you.
There is no open road in New England that can handle this car. It’s built for speed. There was no straight away long enough, no hill windy enough. You need a race track or the European countryside to truly enjoy what’s under the hood. We did our best though. Promise.
Low clearance. Low clearance. I repeat, low clearance. Everywhere I went I was afraid I was going to scuff up the front lip. I didn’t!
I need to get me one of these. Unquestionably a dream car.
